Princess Cruises Celebrates 25 Years of Powering Juneau With Shore Power

Princess Cruises just hit a major environmental milestone — and it’s one worth celebrating.

Princess Cruises Marks 25 Years of Shore Power in Alaska

Back in 2001, Princess Cruises made history. The cruise line completed the very first hydroelectric shore power connection in the cruise industry, right in Juneau, Alaska. Now, 25 years later, the numbers tell an impressive story.

What Shore Power Actually Means

Shore power lets a cruise ship plug into a local power grid while docked. The ship can then shut off its engines completely. In Juneau, that power comes from clean, renewable hydroelectric sources.

Think of it like plugging your phone into a wall charger instead of running it on battery. The ship gets the power it needs without burning fuel or releasing exhaust into the air.

The Numbers Are Staggering

Over the past 25 years, Princess ships have made nearly 1,725 shore power connections in Juneau alone. They’ve used over 123 million kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power. That effort has helped avoid more than 84,500 metric tons of emissions.

Those aren’t just statistics. That’s cleaner air for the people of Juneau and the surrounding wilderness that so many cruise travelers come to see.

A Partnership That Changed the Industry

Princess Cruises didn’t do this alone. The cruise line worked side by side with the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power (AEL&P) to make it happen.

Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises, put it well: “For 25 years, our partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power has demonstrated what’s possible when industry, government and local communities work together toward a common goal.”

He added: “Together, we’ve helped pioneer a technology that has transformed cruise operations around the world while delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits in Alaska.”

Juneau Is Now a Global Leader in Shore Power

What started in one Alaskan port has spread across the globe. Shore power is now used at 41 cruise ports worldwide. Juneau helped light the way.

Alec Mesdag, president and CEO of Alaska Electric Light & Power, shared his thoughts on the partnership: “Connecting cruise ships to our small, isolated electric grid requires innovation, trust and close collaboration, and Princess has embraced that challenge from the very beginning.”

He continued: “Together, we’ve reduced emissions, improved air quality, benefited our community and helped establish Juneau as a global leader in shore power.”

What This Means for Alaska Cruisers

If you’re planning an Alaska cruise with Princess, this is good news. The ships still connect to shore power in Juneau every chance they get. The cruise line also keeps investing in new technology to cut emissions across its entire fleet.

Visiting Alaska means experiencing some of the most stunning, unspoiled scenery on earth. It’s good to know that efforts are being made to keep it that way for future travelers.